BMW 535d - anyone got/had one?

[Littlepeahead]

The time is drawing near for me to pension off my beloved little runabout. After much discussion (arguing) Mr LPH and I have just about agreed that our next car will be a used BMW 535d.

He originally wanted a 3 series 2 door, I said no way as I hate 2 door cars and I'm not driving a poky little roller skate. I wanted another 7 series as I've loved this one, so the 5 series is the compromise and as Stu piles on the miles driving to work at the moment the diesel seems a sensible choice.

The only essential on my list is memory seats - at 5'2" sharing a car with a man 6'2" I cannot go back to having to faff about adjusting the seat/mirrors/steering wheel every time we swap over. It's the best feature on the current car (aside from the secret sweetie compartment.)

So has anyone on here got any experience and opinions of the 535? And I don't just want loads of abuse about being a BMW owner as obviously I don't use my indicators or mirrors, I park across 2 spaces, cut people up and try and beat everything away from the lights - that goes without saying! :D (And that's just on my GS)

[Mark_h]

I have an 08 520d and it's plenty quick enough. 530 and upwards may not be necessary.

As a car it's excellent to drive but a bit fragile electronically. I've had a few issues with tailgate wiring.

[Dipper]

I don't know if you're aware of this site (http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/) but it gives a good in depth real world review for most cars...

[Littlepeahead]

I have an 08 520d and it's plenty quick enough. 530 and upwards may not be necessary.

As a car it's excellent to drive but a bit fragile electronically. I've had a few issues with tailgate wiring.

Oh don't mention tailgate wiring, I'm onto my second boot lid mechanism on the current car - small tension spring breaks and it requires a whole new unit at a cost of £150, unless you can get one at a breakers which is what I did recently.

I did watch the Top Gear Stig lap of the 535 - which probably isn't the most balanced review.

[Mark_h]

520d plenty quick enough at 177bhp (less BHP, worse MPG pre facelift). c50mpg average driving, loads of space handles pretty well for a big estate car too. Comfort pack gives memory seats, folding mirrors, remote open/close boot etc.

[Bluepete]

I'd have one. Used to drive the 530d for work on the motorways. A very planted, solid, stable car.

Can't comment of reliability.

Pete ;)

[DSGMATT]

I have an 08 530d touring, bought this year with 100k and fbmwsh. Minor problems such as eating brake pads and bulb failures. Well worth the money though and will nearly match your 7 series in terms of road presence and toys in the right spec.

Assuming your looking at the Previous 535d? Or the new F10 model?

I have owned 3 E60 5 series and all have been good cars. As already said they can have electrical niggles like most recent BM's, faulty modules etc.

[Littlepeahead]

We used to have a 5 series until Mr LPH wrote it off in a notorious dogging area, but that's another story!

We're looking to spend around £10k. Stu is a bricklayer foreman so the car boot will be filled with filthy boots, buckets and the occasional disc cutter and the interior will get covered with cement and brick dust and sweet wrappers so I'll be left trying to get it clean again when I want to use it. :mad:

[atassiedevil]

Simple, they do rubber boot liners for these. Fit it, when you want it clean, lift it out, hose it off, put it back.

I'd love an E60 5 series estate, I've an E46 320d estate at the moment and its an epic car. 180,000 miles and still going strong.

Next year i'll probably make the switch, after i stop buying motorcycles.

[Littlepeahead]

The engine on the 728 which is a petrol is fine after 130,000 miles, it's all the other bits which are starting to get expensive, annoying electrical faults that cost £600 to put right, we now have 5 chips on the windscreen so that's bound to go soon, then the airbag sensor packing up that was an MOT fail, the odd spot of rust along the sill, and now the cup holder has broken it's really time for an upgrade.

Now can anyone tell me if the 530 also has the secret sweetie compartment in the back?

[Nobbylad]

Just a brief word of warning Clare. I've had a 520d since last Jan. A/C condenser packed in recently and I waited 8 weeks for a replacement. There's a global shortage as it looks like there's an issue with them. It was actually replaced today, however it was still inconvenient (in this weather, leather seats and lack of A/C can be an issue.....especially in dogging areas....so I'm told).

TBH - I'm not a fan of the Beamer....it looks OK and is VERY economical considering it's size. But as soon as the weather takes a turn for the worse, it's a pig, especially in the snow!

Better than the Audi A3, but still not as good as the Hyundai Coupe from a few years ago!

[Matt-EUC]

I've driven both the 535 and the 520 diesels and you have to try really hard to notice the difference in power. Handling is respectable, comfort is top notch, they're nice and big, they look nice. But above all, it gives you an excuse to drive like a c0ck.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[Littlepeahead]

Didn't realise you needed an excuse Matt ;-)

[Matt-EUC]

You don't need one necessarily but it's nice to have one in case anybody asks.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[Littlepeahead]

I think I might be getting my own way here because the 7 series cost roughly the same as the 5 of the same age, but tend to have lower mileage, and a much higher spec as standard inc my essential memory seat, sweetie compartment, I found one with a champagne chiller which is a bit OTT! I guess it is due to their massive depreciation that they sell for the same as a 5 and a lot of small women don't seem to like driving huge hulking cars unless they are Chelsea tractors.

Nobby, my old 5 series was like Bambi on ice in the snow. I just used to get the bus it was less hassle than wiping out a line of neighbours' cars.

[Littlepeahead]

I am now the proud owner of a new little runabout.

Well OK it's not new, it's a 2007, and it's not that little as it is a BMW 730d SE.

In the end we looked at a few 5 series in the South East and they were a bit plasticky and had some of the extras but not all, and a couple of 7 series but none were quite right and then I saw this one which actually belongs to the Finance Director of the dealership a mile from my house. It's in immaculate condition which will last about 5 minutes once Mr LPH gets his grubby hands on it.

So it has a working cup holder, a secret sweets compartment in the rear armrest to keep the nephews happy, automatic windscreen wipers so I don't have to actually think to put them on myself and driver memory seat so there's no arguments over the midget/lanky settings for me and Mr LPH every time we swap over which is even heated for toasty buttock comfort - oh yes!

Org lifts will be available from 1st August.

http://forums.sv650.org/picture.php?albumid=1193&pictureid=7651

http://forums.sv650.org/picture.php?albumid=1193&pictureid=7653

http://forums.sv650.org/picture.php?albumid=1193&pictureid=7652

[600+]

Very nice! That is a lot of a car for that price

[Littlepeahead]

Yep, under £10k, year's MOT, 6 months tax, serviced before I collect it. Considering I pay over £4000 a year for my Greater Anglia season ticket and there's no guarantee I'll arrive at work on time or get a seat, there's no air con in summer and definitely no bum warmer in winter this car is a bargain for Stu's commute.

[maviczap]

Never spent that much on a car, our Zafira was the most expensive nearly new car I've purchased.

But that looks lovely, one day I might get something like that, once the kids have moved on.

[Nobbylad]

Very nice. Has the same gizmos as my 520d, however yes, it is a bit plasticky (mine that is, even the leather seats feel plasticky).

Enjoy and don't stuff it into a wall 😃

[Littlepeahead]

The 2 things I need to remember are that it's a diesel when I get to the petrol station and not too leave a half eaten Snickers in my handbag semi wrapped before chucking my bag onto the heated passenger seat.

[Matt-EUC]

Also, don't do what Gav did to his BMW on the way back from the pub with spank in the car.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[Matt-EUC]

Good advice for life really, don't do what Gav does.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[Mark_h]

He wouldn't be stupid enough to leave a snickers half eaten! He's not entirely daft.

[Matt-EUC]

The only thing I don't like about the 7 series is that no matter what the age of the car they always look about 15 years old.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[Littlepeahead]

That's why Rolf Harris liked them so much.

[Matt-EUC]

Too soon.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[Matt-EUC]

There literally wasn't any evidence. They convicted on her word alone.




Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

[DSGMATT]

The only thing I don't like about the 7 series is that no matter what the age of the car they always look about 15 years old.


Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.

After looking over this beauty at my local dealer today, the current range is anything but dated IMO. If you could buy cars like this 15yrs ago I missed something :confused:

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu273/DSGMATT/imagejpg1_zpsf00a7bde.jpg

[Littlepeahead]

Having assured me the car came with 2 keys the dealer realised yesterday they only had one - so they've had to go to BMW to order another, which the chap sheepishly told me has cost them nearly £300 and he had to come in on his day off to sort it out.

[Luckypants]

Having assured me the car came with 2 keys the dealer realised yesterday they only had one - so they've had to go to BMW to order another, which the chap sheepishly told me has cost them nearly £300 and he had to come in on his day off to sort it out.

Does that mean that somewhere out there someone has the key to your car? Not good as almost all high end car theft is with keys these days.

[Tomor]

You can get the old key knocked off the ecu so it won't work.

Sent from my magical portable device

[Luckypants]

Worth knowing, although that does make perfect sense.

[Littlepeahead]

Somehow when creating a new key they've managed to disable the not opening function of both keys. Grrrr. And I've just had to spend £5 buying Haribo and drumsticks and fizzy snakes for the sweetie compartment before giving the nephews a test drive. The younger one said 'You should have got an i8.' 5 year old petrol heads are the worst!

[Nobbylad]

Somehow when creating a new key they've managed to disable the not opening function of both keys. Grrrr. And I've just had to spend £5 buying Haribo and drumsticks and fizzy snakes for the sweetie compartment before giving the nephews a test drive. The younger one said 'You should have got an i8.' 5 year old petrol heads are the worst!


Should've made him walk home.

[Specialone]

The 2 things I need to remember are that it's a diesel when I get to the petrol station and not too leave a half eaten Snickers in my handbag semi wrapped before chucking my bag onto the heated passenger seat.
My heated seats don't work unless someone is sat in them, I've tried it.

[Littlepeahead]

That's reassuring. I've also worked out they'd locked the boot via a button in the armrest so now the keys work. Got the sat nav sorted, managed to turn the heating down from a default of 25 degrees, connected the iPod, linked the mobile to Tunein for the cricket, stuck a sticker on the fuel cap that says diesel to remind me, eaten a Danish pastry so it's already full of crumbs, yep it feels like my car now.

[Red Herring]

Have you actually found time to operate that big round thing in front of the driver yet.....

[Littlepeahead]

Oh yeah, drove to Winchester and back today for an off road bike day. So done a few hundred miles already.